Juni Answers Your Questions!
FIND out what Juninho has to say about his relationship with Boro fans, his feelings about leaving the club and his desire to say a proper farewell in our exclusive mfc.co.uk Q&A.
The samba star, now 35, spoke to the website from his home in Brazil and took time to answer all the questions submitted.
He talks about the special bond he retains with Boro's fans and admitted he should never have left the club to join Celtic in 2004.
"It is amazing because I never had the relationship with the any other fans that I had at Middlesbrough," he says.
"It was very special and is still very special, with the club and the fans.
"I'm very grateful to the people who continue to remember me at the club because I still remember Middlesbrough and follow the club on the website and I'm always looking for news about the club.
"I think that relationship will be forever."
Juninho, who is back in his homeland after a spell playing in Australia, reveals his latest thoughts on his future and names the young Brazilian star he would most like to see follow in his footsteps to the Riverside.
He also recalls his memories of his time with Boro, including the historic 96/97 campaign, the Carling Cup win and his greatest ever Boro goal - and there's much, much more.
Here's the interview in full…
Q: Did you play Futebol de Sala as a young boy? Did it help your development?
Alex Hall, York
Juninho: Yes, I played since I was six years old until I was 13 and then I went on to play 11-a-side. It helped me a lot because when you're young, you're smaller, so when you play in a smaller game you have more contact with the ball and it helps you develop your technique. When you take this into the big pitch you feel more prepared.
Q: When you first signed for Boro, what were your first ambitions with the club?
Gordon Chambers
Juninho: To win titles. That was my ambition.
Q: Do you have any regrets leaving when Boro were relegated and what was the biggest reason for leaving?
Garry Preston
Juninho: Of course I was upset, everybody could see that in the last game against Leeds because I came to help Middlesbrough win titles and found myself relegated. It never passed my mind that we'd go down. But the next year was the World Cup in France and I was in the national team and expected to play. If I was playing in the first division in England my chances could be low so I was worried about that. Atletico Madrid came in with a big offer, not just for me but for Middlesbrough as well. We sat down and both sides thought it was better for me to go to Atletico.
Q: Do you think Emerson fulfilled his talent and do you keep in touch with him?
James Nugent
Juninho: He did a great job for Middlesbrough. Everybody was talking about him in Brazil at that time. I keep talking with him, not all the time, but sometimes we still talk.
Q: Do you keep in touch with the club, the players and your friends on Teesside?
Kevin Nicholas, similar from Christian White
Juninho: With some friends, yes, but not all the time. With the club and players, not any more. But I would like to come back and see people from my time there.
Q: How did you feel winning a Carling Cup winner's medal after the heartache of losing the two cup finals in 1997?
Robert Thorpe, North Yorkshire
Juninho: It was great to see Middlesbrough win some medals because I think we deserved them in 96/97. When we came back again we could not lose another opportunity. I was very, very happy to see the fans celebrate a title because that's why I came to the club. 
Q: Why did you leave Boro under Steve McClaren?
Mohammad Ibrar, Oldham
Juninho: That's one thing I should never have done, because I had another two years on my contract with Middlesbrough. We had just won the title. We were going to play in Europe - which was another reason why I came to the club. But Steve McClaren, I don't know why, he didn't want to keep me at the club. I don't know the reason. He sat down with me and said I wasn't in his plans for the next year. It was just before we went on our holidays. I was worried because I was thinking everything was okay, we'd just won the title and we were going to play in Europe. It was very strange. When I came back after the summer I was still thinking I had a chance to play, but all through pre-season he put me in the second team and then he didn't choose me for the first game. It was very strange, his attitude, but I should have stayed strong. In the end he would have to play me, he didn't have enough players to play in all the competitions. That's why I don't like Steve McClaren as a manager, because he doesn't know how to deal with players.
Q: I was unhappy you had to leave Boro without a proper send off from the fans - were you equally disappointed?
Peter Gentry, similar from Dennis Palfy and Alec White
Juninho: I was very unhappy and surprised with the situation. I think I made the wrong decision, not because I went to Celtic, they are a very big club. I had a good time there too. But my attitude was wrong, I should have stayed in Middlesbrough and I have to say sorry because things happened too quickly so I didn't have an opportunity to say goodbye to the fans. It put me in a difficult position.
Q: Do you think you will be able to attend a Boro match at the Riverside soon? You never really got a chance to say goodbye properly to the fans.
Penny Kelleher, similar from Guy Bailey
Juninho: I hope so, I would love to.
Q: What is the best memory of your playing days and why?
Paul Hylton, Maidstone, Kent, similar question from Frederik Knauf and Adam Hudson
Juninho: I think it was the 96/97 season because even though we got relegated we did a great season and played some great games. I have great memories of the two games we played at Wembley and the atmosphere on the way to the game.
Q: Korean football fans mix up you and Juninho Pernambucano of Lyon. Although Pernambucano is a master of the free-kick, the real 'Juninho' in my heart is only you. You are a World Cup winner! What do you think of the other Juninho?
Yoon Jong-Seok, Korea
Juninho: I played with him at Vasco da Gama here in Brazil. We played together for one-and-a-half seasons and became great friends and we still talk. I think he's a great player. He's doing a great job for Lyon. I would love to play with him again, he's a player I really appreciate.
Q: What is your favourite Boro goal?
Ray Earl
Juninho: I think the one against Chelsea that was voted Goal of the Season.
Q: Did you ever try a parmo while you were here and what did you think of it?
James Limon, Eston
Juninho: What's a parmo? (Brief description follows). No, I haven't tried one, but I will!
Q: Do you enjoy playing for Sydney United as much as you enjoyed playing for Boro?
Matthew Taylor
Juninho: I enjoy playing football so I enjoyed playing there, but it's different. Each club is different but the memories I have of Middlesbrough are much more than the memories I have of Sydney because I was only there for seven months. But the memories I have of Middlesbrough would be difficult to have at any other club, because they were great.
Q: What do you plan to do with your future?
John Liddle
Juninho: I don't know to be honest. I don't know if I will continue to play or not. I have to decide and then see what opportunities there are, but to be honest I don't know what I'm going to do.
Q: Will you become a coach (or manager) at Middlesbrough, because we would love to have you back?
Josh Bartram, similar questions from Mike Bell, Northants; John Green; Dean Robson; Jordan Pook; Claire Bowdler, Redcar; Simon Galloway; David Allen, Brighton; Craig Close, Middlesbrough; Stuart Smith, Telford, Shropshire; Steve Pell, Lincoln; Jeremy Newbegin, Southampton; Mark Bishoprick, Lazenby; Heather Wilson; Richard Mothersill, Linthorpe; Keith, Netherfields; Mark Wakley, Bucks; Graham Illingworth, Normanby and Iwan Evans, North Wales.
Juninho: I don't want to take Gareth Southgate's place! I think he's been doing a great job for Middlesbrough, and I hope Middlesbrough can be more successful and play in Europe every season. I don't plan to be a coach but you never know. I have no experience as a coach yet but if the opportunity came in time then we will see.
Q: If you were the Boro manager, which single player would you most like to sign in the summer?
Altair Stone
Juninho: It's difficult because you can't always sign a player you want, because of money and other things. No one comes to mind - maybe Robinho from Real Madrid if I had enough money!
Q: Which one up and coming young Brazilian should Boro bring to the Riverside?
Ken Dunn, Ingleby Barwick
Juninho: Let me think. There are a few good young players but the way we play here is different. There are good strikers but I don't know if they will adapt to English football, it's very physical. There is a young player called Dentinho at Corinthians who I would take, I think he will become a great player.
Q: Can Afonso Alves make an impact like you did for the Boro?
Michael Debnath, Middlesbrough
Juninho: To be honest I didn't see him play much because he left Brazil early in his career. Only when he was doing well in the Dutch league did everybody starting talking about him and then he got into the national team. He has a different style to my game, he plays further forward and likes to score goals. But I think he can do a great job for Boro.
Q: Who in the current Boro squad has impressed you most?
Peter Johnson
Juninho: To be honest I don't get to watch a lot of games. It's difficult here, they only show games against the big teams like Manchester United, Liverpool and Chelsea. But Stewart Downing was there when I was playing and I think he's doing a good job. He needs more time and he'll become an even better player.
Q: If I go to your pizza restaurant in Sao Paulo do I get a discount if I wear my Boro top?
Matt Lamont, New York
Juninho: It's free for you!
Q: What are your hopes and dreams for Boro now?
Alan Smith, Derby
Juninho: I think Middlesbrough need to get back to the stage it was at a few years go, fighting to get into Europe. They need to be in a group with teams like Aston Villa, Portsmouth and Manchester City. I hope to see them getting the chance to play in Europe every year.
Q: Are you amazed at the affection Boro fans still have for you?
Steve Mitchell, London, similar from Chris Barfoot
Juninho: It is amazing because I never had the relationship with the any other fans that I had at Middlesbrough. It was very special and is still very special, with the club and the fans. I'm very grateful to the people who continue to remember me club because I still remember Middlesbrough and follow the club on the website and I'm always looking for news. I think that relationship will be forever.
